>>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS STAFF, OR UNDERWRITER.

♫♫ ♫♫ ♫♫ >>> GOOD DAY AND WELCOME TO "THE WASHINGTON REPORT."

I´M CONGRESSWOMAN STACEY PLASKETT AND I AM BLESSED TO SERVE AS THE VIRGIN ISLAND´S DELEGATE TO THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

"THE WASHINGTON REPORT" WAS CREATED TO INFORM VIRGIN ISLANDERS ON CURRENT FEDERAL ISSUES THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT THE COMMUNITY.

GUESTS RANGE FROM POLITICAL LEADERS TO COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS.

THIS SHOW IS ALL ABOUT GETTING INFORMATION TO YOU.

THEREFORE, I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO E-MAIL YOUR QUESTIONS TO ASKSTACEY @MAIL.HOUSE.GOV TO HAVE THEM ANSWERED ON FUTURE SHOWS.

NOW, I´D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY GUEST TODAY.

I HAVE A FRESHMAN CONGRESSWOMAN McCORMICK.

CONGRESSWOMAN McCORMICK WAS ELECTED TO THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN JANUARY 2022.

THIS WAS A SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL A SEAT AFTER THE DEATH OF OUR ESTEEMED FORMER JUDGE, CONGRESSMAN, AND SENIOR MEMBER OF THE RULES COMMITTEE.

NOW, OF COURSE YOU KNOW I LOVE THIS WOMAN BECAUSE SHE WAS BORN IN BROOKLYN.

YOU GUYS ALL KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

TO PARENTS FROM HAITI.

AND RAISED IN QUEENS, NEW YORK, AND THEN MOVED TO FLORIDA AT THE AGE OF 13 TO ATTEND HIGH SCHOOL.

SHE´S THE FIRST HAITIAN AMERICAN DEMOCRAT TO BE ELECTED TO CONGRESS, AND SHE NOW PROUDLY REPRESENTS FLORIDA´S 20th DISTRICT.

CONGRESSWOMAN McCORMICK EARNED HER BACHELOR´S DEGREE FROM HOWARD UNIVERSITY AND HER JURIS DOCTORATE FROM ST. THOMAS UNIVERSITY AND BEFORE SHE WAS ELECTED, SHE SERVED AS A PROJECT MANAGER FOR NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT AUTHORITY.

AND FROM 1999 TO 2007, SHE WORKED AS VICE PRESIDENT FOR TRINITY HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND LATER SERVED AS CEO.

WHILE IN OFFICE, SHE INTENDS TO TACKLE RISING UNEMPLOYMENT RATES, THE COST OF LIVING, INADEQUATE ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE, AND LACK OF EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES.

THESE ARE STRONG IDEAS AND, OF COURSE, ONES THAT WE ALL SHARE.

AS A HAITIAN AMERICAN WOMAN IN CONGRESS REPRESENTING ONE OF THE LARGEST HAITIAN COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, SHE HAS VOWED TO KEEP THEM -- GIVE THEM THE VOICE THAT THEY NEED.

REPRESENTATIVE McCORMICK SERVES ON THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR, AS WELL AS THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS.

SHE IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS, THE HAITIAN CAUCUS, AND THE CARIBBEAN CAUCUS.

SHE IS MARRIED AND SHE IS THE PROUD MOTHER OF TWO.

SO, IT´S SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

I AM EXCITED TO BE HERE.

>> GREAT.

YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED THAT YOU WERE BORN IN BROOKLYN, LIKE MYSELF AND THAT YOUR PARENTS ARE HAITIAN.

YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LARGE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES BUT I WANTED TO ASK YOU NOT JUST ABOUT YOUR CARIBBEAN ROOTS BUT HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR HAITIAN HERITAGE HAS SHAPED WHO YOU ARE TODAY?

>> WELL, I THINK IT REALLY KIND OF MADE ME DEVELOP A PROUDNESS.

ALWAYS UNDERSTANDING HOW HARD WE FOUGHT, ESPECIALLY TO BE THE FIRST COUNTRY IN THE CARIBBEAN TO BE INDEPENDENT.

AND SO, I ALWAYS FELT LIKE WE´RE A PROUD PEOPLE.

I HAD THE ABILITY TO SPEAK MULTIPLE LANGUAGES AND SO IT MADE ME STAND UP PROUD.

BUT BEING IN THE U.S., SEEING WHAT WE ARE SUFFERING EVERY DAY, IT WAS A CONFLICTING EMOTIONAL FEELING BUT IT REALLY GIVE ME THE PRINCIPLES AND ENDURANCE THAT I NEED TO SUCCEED.

>> UH-HUH.

THOSE CONFLICTING FEELINGS.

>> WELL, BECAUSE TO BE A PROUD PEOPLE.

THE EMPIRE, AT ONE MOMENT, SO PROUD BUT LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES AND BEING CONSTANTLY SUBJECT TO RULES THAT AREN´T FAIR, UM, WHERE YOU SEE THAT WE ARE CONSTANTLY BEING DEHUMANIZED, I REMEMBER GROWING UP IN NEW YORK WHEN THEY USED TO USE THE THREE Hs WHEN THEY TALKED ABOUT AIDS, THEY SAID HAITIAN PEOPLE HAD AIDS.

AND SO, YOU HEAR THOSE NARRATIVES AND NEVER SEEING THE TRUE NARRATIVE OF HAITIAN AMERICANS LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES AND OUR SUCCESSES.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE LONG HISTORY OF HAITIANS, RIGHT?

DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, HAITIANS CAME AS SOLDIERS TO FIGHT ON THE SIDE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION FOR THE AMERICANS TRYING TO OVERTHROW COLONIALISM.

AND EVEN IN THE CIVIL WAR IN NEW ORLEANS, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE SO MANY INSTANCES WHERE THE SUPPORT OF HAITI WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY INSTRUMENTAL AND SUPPORTIVE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND I FEEL THAT WE SHOULD BE THE SAME.

NOW, YOU TALK ABOUT THE CONFLICTING MESSAGES AND THE DISPARATE TREATMENT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT -- HAITIANS ARE NOT TREATED THE SAME, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO IMMIGRATION, RIGHT?

UM, IN MAY 22nd, 2021, HOMELAND SECURITY ANNOUNCED A NEW TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS, WHICH IS A STATUS THAT´S GIVEN TO A GROUP OF PEOPLE BECAUSE OF MAYBE SOME CATACLYSMIC EVENT THAT´S HAPPENED IN THEIR COUNTRY.

THEY NEED REFUGE, AND SO WE ALLOW FOR A TEMPORARY TIME PERIOD FOR INDIVIDUALS TO COME.

WE KNOW THAT THAT WAS GIVEN TO HAITI AFTER THE EARTHQUAKES.

BUT THERE CONTINUES TO BE ONGOING UNREST, AS WELL AS NATURAL DISASTERS THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO GO BACK.

THERE IS NO WORK.

THERE ARE NO HOMES FOR THEM TO GO BACK TO.

SO, HOMELAND SECURITY EXTENDED, UM, TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS FOR ANOTHER 18 MONTHS.

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE CONGRESS AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SHOULD DO, LONG-TERM, TO SUPPORT THOSE HAITIANS THAT ARE LIVING HERE IN THE U.S. AS WELL AS THAT HELP PROVIDING FOR BACK HOME IN HAITI?

>> WELL RIGHT NOW, WE REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS OUR IMMIGRATION ISSUE BY CREATING A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP.

UM, THE EXTENSION OF TPS IS A CONTINUOUS EXTENSION THAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING AND AT SOME POINT, WE JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT THE EXTENSIONS THAT WE´VE GIVEN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE, THEY ARE WORKING PEOPLE.

THEY HAVE FAMILIES.

THEY´RE CONTRIBUTING TO THE -- TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE COUNTRY.

AND SO, HAVING A CLEAR PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP IS IMPERATIVE.

BUT ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OF WHAT´S GOING ON IS THE CONSTANT EXPULSIONS OF HAITIANS WHO ARE COMING, NOT BEING GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY.

IT´S A CLEAR VIOLATION OF DUE PROCESS AND WE SEE IT HAPPENING EVERY DAY.

SO IT´S IMPORTANT THAT THE ADMINISTRATION ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE SITUATION, AND SAY LET´S PUT IN PLACE SOME PERMANENT SOLUTIONS.

>> SURE.

I KNOW THAT THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS, THE MEMBERS OF THE HAITI CAUCUS -- I WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE FRESHMEN CLASS, MONDAIRE JONES, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE ADMINISTRATION SAYING THAT, WELL, WE´RE EXPELLING THEM FOR HEALTH REASONS, RIGHT?

BECAUSE OF THE COVID PANDEMIC.

WHEREAS, CMS HAS SAID, YOU KNOW, WE DON´T REALLY SEE IT AS A HEALTH RISK IN THE SAME WAY.

AND RATHER THAN PUTTING STOPGAPS LIKE TESTING FOR PEOPLE COMING THROUGH, THE ABSOLUTE EXPULSION JUST SEEMS TO BE ARBITRARY AND CAPRICIOUS, RIGHT?

>> IT IS, AND I THINK WE HAVE TO REALLY, UM, HAVE THE ADMINISTRATION HOLD ACCOUNTABILITY AND STOP TRYING TO PASS THE BUCKET.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS THEY ARE NO LONGER GOING TO BE USING TITLE 42, THEN WE WOULD NO LONGER BE USING TITLE 42 AND THAT´S JUST THE TRUTH OF IT.

WE SEE THAT IT´S BEING APPLIED TO HAITIAN PEOPLE ON AN EVERYDAY BASIS BUT NOT TO OTHER IMMIGRATION GROUPS.

IF WE LOOK AT AND COMPARE THE SITUATIONS OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN HAITI, COMPARED TO WHAT IS GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE OTHER COUNTRIES, UKRAINE, AFGHANISTAN, HAITIAN PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING A SIMILAR SITUATION.

UM, WE HAD THE ASSASSINATION IN HAITI, WHICH CAUSED SO MUCH INSTABILITY.

WE HAVE AN ILL LEGITIMATE PRIME MINISTER RIGHT NOW IN HAITI WHO IS TRYING TO HOLD ELECTIONS.

>> LITTLE PLUG OUT THERE, HUH?

WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS.

>> WELL I MEAN, IT´S THE TRUTH, RIGHT?

THIS IS NOT EVEN AN OBJECTIVE OR THIS IS MY THOUGHTS.

THIS IS ACTUALLY TRUE TO SEE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW AND SO AS WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL THE FACETS BEING COMPOUNDED THAT WE DID NOT DEAL WITH IN ITS INCEPTION, THIS IS WHY WE FIND THIS OVERFLOW OF IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE COMING TO OUR OUR LAND BORDERS.

WE SEE IN EL PASO AND OUR BORDERS IN FLORIDA AND WE SEE THAT AS WE KEEP TURNING A BLIND EYE AND EXPOSING, IT´S NOT SOLVING THE PROBLEM AND IT BECOMES OUR DUTY TO NOT ONLY HOLD THE PRESIDENT ACCOUNTABLE BUT CONGRESS MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE THE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN GONE -- GOING ON FOR TOO LONG.

WE HAVE WRITTEN SEVERAL LETTERS AND WE ARE LOBBYING AS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS BUT THIS IS THE TIME FOR ACTION BECAUSE HOW IS IT WE SUPPORT OTHER IMMIGRANTS BUT WE´RE STILL DEALING WITH THE ATROCITIES OF WHAT´S GOING ON IN HAITI?

WHICH HAS BEEN CAUSED BECAUSE OF THE UNITED STATES´ RELATIONSHIP WITH HAITI LONG-TERM.

AND WE HAVE TO ADMIT THAT ALSO.

WHAT WAS OUR INFLUENCE AND OUR IMPACT ON POLICIES FROM, YOU KNOW, DECADES AGO THAT HAVE PUT HAITI IN THIS SITUATION?

>> AND WHAT DO YOU THINK SOME OF THOSE POLICY CHANGES SHOULD BE?

>> I THINK IMMEDIATELY, WE HAVE TO BE PRIORITIZING SAFETY.

WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT´S GOING ON IN HAITI, THE RISE OF THE GANGS.

WE KNOW WHO IS ACTUALLY IN WHAT POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE FUELING THE GANGS.

WE SEE THAT RIGHT NOW IF WE HOLD AN ELECTION TODAY, IT IS GOING TO BE A RACE OF WHO FEELS BRAVE ENOUGH TO GO VOTE.

WE CAN´T BE IN A SOCIETY WHERE, YOU KNOW, GANGS ARE TERRORIZING PEOPLE SO THEY CAN´T GO OUT AND VOTE, SO THE U.S. HAS TO TAKE A FIRM STEP AND SAY LISTEN, YOU CANNOT TRY TO RUSH AN ELECTION BY PUTTING TOGETHER THE CEP TO HOLD ELECTIONS WHEN YOU KNOW IT´S NOT GOING TO BE FAIR.

IT´S GOING TO BE A RISK OF YOUR LIFE TO GO VOTE AND SO ONLY CERTAIN GROUPS CAN GET OUT THERE.

AND IT´S GOING TO BE A BLOODBATH AND THAT´S THE REALITY OF HAITI RIGHT NOW AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, I THINK IT IS A GREAT THING IF WE LOOK AT THE MONEY THAT IS GOING TO HAITI, IT HAS CONTINGENCIES ON PEACE BUT WE NEED TO REALLY STAND STRONG BECAUSE ARIEL HENRY PRAISES HIS LEGITIMACY ON THE UNITED STATES AND THE INTERNATIONAL WORLD.

SO WE CAN INFLUENCE AND EXPEDITE THAT TRANSITION BUT WHAT WE CAN DO FIRST IS PRIORITIZE PEACE.

>> SO, YOUR -- YOU -- YOU PROPOSE, LIKE SO MANY OTHERS HAVE, THAT WE HAVE AN INTERIM GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW THAT IS REALLY THERE TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS PEACE AND ECONOMIC STABILITY THAT OCCURS.

UM, REDUCING THE GANG ACTIVITY SO THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN CAMPAIGN, AND THEN THERE CAN BE A LEGITIMATE ELECTION AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME.

UM, AND I KNOW THAT YOU AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN CIVIL SOCIETY, BEING THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ACTUALLY PUTTING A TEMPORARY GOVERNMENT IN PLACE WHICH WILL ACTUALLY -- BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE SO MANY POSITIONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN FILLED IN THE LAST, YOU KNOW, FIVE YEARS, RIGHT?

THAT THE PREVIOUS PRIME MINISTER DID NOT FILL POSITIONS WITH JUDGES, WITH MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.

AND SO, THERE IS A VACUUM THAT´S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW THAT´S BEING FILLED WITH THE GANGS.

>> UH-HUH.

WELL, WE LOOK AT WHAT´S GOING ON, EVERYBODY´S VYING TO BE THE NEXT TRANSITION GOVERNMENT.

WE HAVE TO PUT EXPECTATIONS ON THEM WE DO OF ALL LEADERS.

LEADERS ARE ABLE TO UNIFY AND GET A CONSENSUS.

THAT IS AN IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTIC AND VARIABLE BUT YOU ARE ALSO ABLE TO HAVE A PEACEFUL TRANSITION.

SO, AS WE LOOK AT EVERYONE WHO IS PROPOSING, WE HAVE TO LOOK WHO IS ABLE TO ACTUALLY BRING THE MOST PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND ACTUALLY PRIORITIZE PEACE?

BECAUSE WE -- IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES, IF WE HAVE TO ELECT SOMEONE, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO ELECT SOMEONE WHO CAN´T MAKE SURE WE HAVE PEACE, WHO CAN´T TALK, WHO CAN´T BE DIPLOMATIC SO I THINK WE HAVE TO HOLD THE SAME STANDARD HERE AND NOT FOCUS NECESSARILY ON WHO IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT TRANSITION GOVERNMENT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE CONTROL BUT WHO CAN FACILITATE WHAT IS GOING TO BE BEST FOR EVERYONE, WHICH IS A PEACEFUL TRANSITION.

MAKING SURE THAT GANGS ARE NOT TAKING OVER THE STREETS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ACTUALLY SEE REAL CIVILITY COMING TO LIFE AND THAT´S PART OF THE PRIORITY.

I THINK ALSO WHAT WE HAVE TO BE DOING, WE HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS AS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, UM, AS LEADERS THAT WE ARE NOT COMING IN AND DICTATING FOR THE HAITIAN PEOPLE WHAT SHOULD BE GOING ON.

SO, WHEN WE TALK TO THE HAITIAN DIASPORA, IT´S IMPORTANT THAT WE ASK THEM WHAT IS YOUR INPUT?

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE?

AND SO, I TAKE CALLS EVERY SINGLE DAY BECAUSE EVERYONE CALLS ME AND THEY ALL THINK I´M THEIR DAUGHTER.

THEY´RE LIKE, DO THIS, DO THAT.

BUT IT´S A COMMUNITY THING.

YOU UNDERSTAND HOW THE CARIBBEAN FAMILY IS.

AND THEY GIVE ME ADVICE AND THE NUMBER ONE THING THEY TELL ME IS THAT MAKE SURE THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE ARE BEING HEARD.

SO ANY ACTIONS WE TAKE, WE ALWAYS SIT THERE AND WE TALK TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

WE TALK TO THE HAITIAN-ELECTED OFFICIALS.

WE TALK TO DIFFERENT GROUPS TO FIND OUT WHAT IS THE DESIRE?

AND THE ONE THING WE FOUND THE DESIRE WAS WAS FOR US NOT TO CHOOSE A TRANSITION GOVERNMENT.

THE NUMBER ONE THING.

>> TO ALLOW PEOPLE -- ALLOW THE PEOPLE OF HAITI TO DO THAT.

>> CORRECT.

>> AND I KNOW THERE IS ALSO -- YOU TELL ME IF THERE IS A TENSION BETWEEN THE GROUPS FROM THE DIASPORA AS WELL AS THE GROUPS THAT ARE THERE ON THE GROUND THAT YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO BRING BOTH OF THEM TOGETHER, AND AS MANY AS POSSIBLE WHICH IS PROBABLY A GREATER REPRESENTATION OF -- OF -- UM -- ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE THE DECISION.

>> I THINK THEY´RE REALLY -- IT´S A TENSION THAT EXISTS REALLY WITH STAKEHOLDERS.

PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY WANT TO BE PART OF THE ACCORD OR WANT TO BE ACTUALLY INVOLVED BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN INTEREST.

BUT IF YOU ASK THE PEOPLE THE DESIRE, PEOPLE OF THE DIASPORA, PEOPLE IN HAITI, THEY JUST WANT PEACE.

THEY WANT TO GO HOME.

THEY WANT TO VISIT THEIR FAMILY.

THE REASON IT´S SO IMPORTANT WE INCLUDE THE DIASPORA IN WHAT´S GOING ON IN HAITI IS BECAUSE I SAY I WOULD LOVE FOR HAITI TO BE PEACEFUL BECAUSE EVERYONE KNOWS -- YOU KNOW, MY DAUGHTER NEEDS MONEY FOR SCHOOL.

THAT´S US SUPPORTING THE ECONOMY.

SOILD SO I WOULD LOVE FOR STABILITY TO BE IN THE REGION.

I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO HAVE MORE VISAS SO WE COULD HAVE MORE WORK OPPORTUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES AND GO BACK AND FORTH.

SO THE DIASPORA WOULD LOVE TO SEE HAITI PROSPER.

AND WE HAVE A HEART FOR THE COUNTRY SO WE HAVE TO START GETTING PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY HAVE A HEART FOR THE COUNTRY TO START BEING INFLUENTIAL IN THE PROCESS, AND NOT OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING AT IT LIKE WELL THIS ISN´T A PART OF ME BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHATEVER HAPPENS IN HAITI, THE REMGZ THAT HAITI HAS, I HAVE THAT.

>> UH-HUH.

>> YOU KNOW, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT MEMBERS CONGRESSWOMAN YVETTE CLARKE, FRED RICA WILSON, AND OTHERS REALLY PUSHED FOR THE TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS TO BE EXTENDED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AMERICANS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE WORKING.

>> RIGHT.

>> THESE ARE NOT PEOPLE LIVING OFF OF AMERICA.

THEY ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE AMERICAN ECONOMY.

BUT THEY MAKE UP, ALSO, A LARGE PORTION OF THE GDP OF HAITI AS WELL BECAUSE OF THE REMITTANCES, BECAUSE OF THE MONEY THAT THEY´RE SENDING BACK HOME.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT, ABOUT THE ECONOMY, UM, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE UNITED STATES IN TERMS OF OUR TRADE ENGAGE WITH HAITI, AS WELL AS THE CARIBBEAN REGION ALSO?

>> WELL I THINK RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A HUGE SHORTAGE OF PEOPLE FOR EMPLOYMENT IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES.

IN MY DISTRICT, WE SEE A HUGE SHORTAGE ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO DELIVERING DIFFERENT SERVICE TRADES AND SERVICE.

SO, WE NEED A LOT OF PEOPLE TO WORK IN HOTELS, IN RESTAURANTS, WE SEE THE NEED AND WE SEE THE CULTURAL COMPETENCY.

ESPECIALLY FOR SOUTH FLORIDA WHERE YOU ARE SERVICING CARIBBEAN PEOPLE, SO WHY NOT GIVE MORE VISAS GOING INTO THE CARIBBEAN WHERE WE CAN HAVE THEM FILLING IN THOSE GAPS AND I THINK THAT´S WHERE WE HAVE TO ENCOURAGE OUR TRADE AND OUR COMMUNICATION IS BY USING THE CARIBBEAN TO SUPPORT US AND WE CAN SUPPORT THEM.

AND WE´LL SEE THAT WE HAVE A BENEFIT, THE RELATIONSHIP BENEFIT US BOTH.

EVEN IN HEALTHCARE, THAT IS A RISING ISSUE WE JUST DON´T HAVE ENOUGH NURSES.

HHAs, CNAs.

THESE ARE CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS WE KNOW WE COULD BRING PEOPLE FROM THE CARIBBEAN, TEACH THEM THOSE TRADES AND THEY CAN ACTUALLY HELP SUPPLEMENT.

MY BACKGROUND USED TO BE IN HOME HEALTH AND THAT IS SUCH A -- IT´S SUCH A UNIQUE AREA BECAUSE YOU ARE BRINGING YOUR HEALTH PROFESSIONAL INTO YOUR HOME AND YOU WANT SOMEONE WHO LOOKS LIKE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND.

IF YOU ARE A CULTURE YOU DON´T WEAR GLOVES, YOU WANT SOMEONE WHO COMES IN WHO DOESN´T WEAR GLOVES.

IT´S SUCH A DIFFERENT, INTIMATE EXPERIENCE AND SO IF WE CAN COUPLE THOSE NEEDS WITH THE BENEFITS, WE CAN SEE THE CARIBBEAN GROW TO DIFFERENT MAGNITUDE BECAUSE WE CAN ALSO SEE THE UNITED STATES PROSPER AND THAT´S WHAT WE´RE LOOKING FOR IS THOSE BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIPS.

>> UH-HUH.

SO NOW, THE VIRGIN ISLANDS DOES HAVE A HAITIAN POPULATION.

SO I WAS WONDERING, BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT, IF THERE WAS ANY SPECIAL MESSAGE YOU WANTED TO GIVE THEM TO IN CREOLE.

>> OH, IN CREOLE.

SO MY FAMILY -- WHEN I SPEAK CREOLE, MY CREOLE HAS THIS LIKE -- IT´S COMPARED TO SOUTHERN KIND OF SWING.

>> YOU ARE A REALLY SOUTHERN GIRL.

SOUTHERN CREOLE.

>> RIGHT.

SO WHAT I WOULD TELL EVERYBODY IS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS HAVE A GREAT CONGRESSWOMAN.

[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ] APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH.

BUT IN ADDITION, THERE IS TIMES WHEN WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE JUST SEEING CONSTANT TURMOIL.

I WOULD TELL EVERY HAITIAN PERSON WHO IS WATCHING AND WHO IS THINKING -- WHO FEELS DEMORALIZED, WHEN YOUR COUNTRY´S IN TURMOIL FOR SO LONG, YOU DO.

UM, I WOULD TELL THEM THAT TO BE ENCOURAGED.

[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ] WHICH IS THE TIME WE COME TOGETHER SO EVERYBODY CAN UNDERSTAND WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE WANT FOR THE COUNTRY.

AND SO, I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY BECAUSE HAVING THE CONVERSATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THE CARIBBEAN POPULATION -- IT´S SO IMPERATIVE THAT WE SUPPORT EACH OTHER BECAUSE WE´RE STRONGER TOGETHER.

WE HAVE SIMILAR CULTURES, WE SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

UM, CENTURIES AGO, WE WENT FROM ISLAND TO ISLAND WORKING AND THAT´S BEEN OUR EXPERIENCE.

SO, WHEN WE STAND UP FOR ONE, WE STAND UP FOR ALL.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU GIVING ME THIS MOMENT AND THE PLATFORM.

THANK YOU.

>> AS I´VE SAID, IF YOU NEED ANYTHING FROM ME, YOU KNOW, YOU COME IN SUCH A DIFFICULT TIME AS A FRESHMAN IN A SPECIAL ELECTION.

THERE WASN´T ANY ORIENTATION FOR YOU.

WE JUST THREW YOU IN THERE.

SO, WHENEVER YOU NEED TO REACH OUT, KNOW THAT MYSELF, MY OFFICE, MY TEAM -- YOU HAVE GOT THE BEST WITH YOUR CHIEF OF STAFF.

WE ARE ONE.

AND ANY WAY I CAN HELP, I´M -- I´M THERE FOR YOU.

UM, SO FINALLY AND IN CLOSING, THIS YEAR, WE´RE GOING TO CONTINUE THE TRADITION OF ENDING "THE WASHINGTON REPORT" WITH SOME WORDS FROM ME.

AS WE HEARD, WE WERE JUST DISCUSSING IMMIGRATION AND THE ISSUES OF HAITI.

WITH THE CURRENT BORDER CRISIS AND CONTINUED NEGLECT OF HAITI, MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUES IN THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS ARE COMMITTED TO CHANGING THE UNITED STATES´ IMMIGRATION POLICY TOWARDS HAITIANS TO A POLICY THAT IS HUMANE, EQUITABLE, BASED ON COMMON SENSE, AND ULTIMATELY FAIR.

THERE IS A LONGSTANDING CONVERSATION -- UM -- AND CONTROVERSY OVER THE TREATMENT OF HAITIAN ASYLUM APPLICANTS WHO ARE ROUTINELY DETAINED INDEFINITELY PENDING A CREDIBLE FEAR DETERMINATION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

COMPARED TO THE TREATMENT OF CUBAN ASYLUM APPLICANTS WHO WERE AUTOMATICALLY ASSUMED TO BE FLEEING BECAUSE OF POLITICAL PERSECUTION WHEN THEY SET FOOT ON AMERICAN SOIL.

CUBAN ASYLUM SEEKERS ALSO ARE ELIGIBLE, BARRING SOME EXCEPTIONS, TO APPLY FOR LEGAL RESIDENCY A YEAR LATER.

WE NEED TO WORK FOR HAITIAN PARODY TO OBTAIN THE SAME BENEFITS FOR HAITIANS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ARE AVAILABLE TO CUBANS.

THE HAITIAN FAMILY REUNIFICATION PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED TO ALLOW CERTAIN ELIGIBLE U.S. CITIZENS AND LPRs TO APPLY FOR PAROLE FOR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS IN HAITI.

THIS PAST SEPTEMBER, THE WORLD WATCHED AS LARGE NUMBERS OF HAITIANS ENTERED THE UNITED STATES AT THE TEXAS BORDER AT DELL RIO AND WITNESS TO DISTURBING VIDEOS OF BORDER PATROL AGENTS CHASING AND IN INSTANCES WHIPPING BLACK MIGRANTS CARRYING NOTHING BUT FOOD AND WATER.

WHILE PARTICULARLY HORRIFYING, INCIDENT THESE INCIDENTS ARE NOT AN ABERRATION.

BLACK MIGRANTS FACE DISPARATE AND OFTEN INHUMANE TREATMENT AT EVERY STAGE OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT PROCESS.

ALTHOUGH BLACK IMMIGRANTS COMPRISE JUST 5.4% OF THE UNAUTHORIZED POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES AND 7.2% OF THE TOTAL NONCITIZEN POPULATION, THEY WERE 10.6% OF ALL IMMIGRANTS IN REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS BETWEEN 2003 AND 2015.

A RECENT REPORT FROM RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA FOUND THAT THOSE DETAINED FROM AFRICA AND THE CARIBBEAN PREDOMINANTLY BLACK REGIONS MAKE UP JUST 4% OF THOSE IN THE U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT CUSTODY FROM 2012 TO 2017.

BUT 24% OF ALL SOLITARY CONFINEMENT DETENTIONS.

BLACK MIGRANTS ARE ALSO LIKELY TO REMAIN IN DETENTION LONGER THAN ANY MIGRANTS AND PAY SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER BONDS FOR RELEASE.

IT´S ESSENTIAL THAT WE RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO REVERSING ANTI-BLACK POLICIES, INCLUDING BY ADOPTING A HUMAN RIGHTS CENTERED APPROACH TO SUPPORTING IMMIGRANTS AND PEOPLE SEEKING ASYLUM IN THE UNITED STATES.

NOW, ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I WANTED TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT THAT IS GOING ON THIS WEEK THAT I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT AND I KNOW, SHEILA, YOU ARE AS WELL, IS AN ISSUE THAT´S NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, H.R.2116, THE CROWN ACT, WHICH IS CREATING A RESPECTFUL AND OPEN WORLD FOR NATURAL HAIR.

YOU AND I BOTH HAVE DAUGHTERS.

WE BOTH HAVE BEEN LITTLE BLACK GIRLS AS WELL SO WE KNOW THE ISSUES THIS REPRESENTS AND THIS BILL PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON A PERSON´S HAIR TEXTURE OR HAIRSTYLE IF THAT STYLE OR TEXTURE IS COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH A PARTICULAR RACE OR NATIONAL ORIGIN.

SPECIFICALLY, THE BILL PROHIBITS THIS TYPE OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THOSE PARTICIPATING IN FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS, AND EMPLOYMENT.

AS A BLACK WOMAN, THE PASSING OF THE CROWN ACT IS IMPORTANT TO ME.

HAIR DISCRIMINATION CAN START AS EARLY AS 5 YEARS OLD AND 86% OF BLACK TEENS WHO EXPERIENCE HAIR DISCRIMINATION THEY EXPERIENCED IT BY THE AGE OF 12.

TRAUMA MEANS TEENAGED GIRLS ARE MISSING A WEEK OF SCHOOL PER YEAR DUE TO THEIR HAIR DISSATISFACTION.

I CAN RECALL AS A SMALL GIRL AFTER SCHOOL TELLING MY MOTHER ABOUT A MAN WHO HAD JOKED ABOUT MY PERFECTLY COIFED, PERFECTLY ROUND AFRO.

IN THE ´70s, THAT WAS IMPORTANT.

AND MY MOTHER´S REACTION GAVE ME THE STRENGTH TO ENDURE MICROAGGRESSIONS I RECEIVED WHEN I WORE MY HAIR LATER AS AN ADULT IN LOCKS, CORNROWS, AND BRAIDS.

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT 80% OF BLACK WOMEN BELIEVE THAT THEY HAD TO CHANGE THEIR HAIR FROM ITS NATURAL STATE TO FIT IN AT THE OFFICE.

THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

BLACK WOMEN ARE 50% MORE LIKELY TO BE SENT HOME FROM WORK BECAUSE OF THEIR HAIR.

DISCRIMINATION AGAINST BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS BECAUSE OF THEIR NATURAL HAIR IS FAR TOO COMMON IN OUR WORKPLACE, AND IN SCHOOLS.

BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS DESERVE THE FREEDOM TO BE WHO GOD MADE THEM TO BE, FROM THE TIPS OF THEIR TOES, TO EVERY TWIST, WAVE, AND COIL OF THEIR BEAUTIFUL HAIR.

YOUR HAIR´S A FORM OF SELF-EXPRESSION, AND BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES IN ANY WAY THEY CHOOSE, ANYHOW THEY WANT WITH THEIR HAIR.

IT´S TIME TO PUT AN END TO HAIR DISCRIMINATION.

SO, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING A PART OF "THE WASHINGTON REPORT," AND THANK YOU TO MY NEW SISTER FROM FLORIDA FOR BEING A PART OF THIS ESTEEMED BODY, THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE CONGRESS, THE PEOPLE´S HOUSE.

AND THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT I KNOW YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON.

UM, AND REMEMBER FLORIDA IS JUST THE NEAR COUSIN TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, SO COME ON DOWN.

ST. JOHN OR ST. THOMAS ANYTIME AND YOU WILL RECEIVE A WARM CARIBBEAN WELCOME FROM US.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> SO THAT´S ALL FOR US HERE AND I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS -- UM -- PEACE AND LOVE AND, EVERYONE, STAY SAFE AND STAY VI STRONG.